First-year winner
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$278 Year 1 edge
$770 vs $492
Compare Cards
Stack up the better credit card
Compare two cards side by side with your real spend, credits, fees, and rewards.
Card A
Card B
Monthly spend
Start with spending categories
Monthly Total
$2,430/mo
Reward assumptions
Credits & benefits
Count the credits and perks you actually expect to use. Credit rows start with conservative default values; edit them for your own merchant, timing, or travel friction.
Card A
Citi Custom Cash Card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions
Other · No listed cash value
The card stays inside Citi’s cash-back or ThankYou-style redemption ecosystem with simple digital redemption options.
Perk
No Annual Fee
Other · No listed cash value
You can keep the card long term without paying a recurring annual fee.
Perk
Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Other · No listed cash value
The card is built around easy day-to-day redemption without needing to manage a complex points program.
Card B
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Counted benefits
$84
Credits
$84
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Credit
$84 Disney Bundle Credit
Streaming Credits · Listed $84/yr
Up to $7 back each month after spending at least the required amount on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription.
Perk
Purchase Protection
Purchase Protection · No listed cash value
Can help protect eligible purchases against accidental damage, theft, or loss for a limited period after purchase.
Perk
Extended Warranty
Extended Warranty · No listed cash value
Can extend the original manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases.
Perk
Return Protection
Return Protection · No listed cash value
Can help when an eligible merchant will not take back a qualifying purchase within the stated time window.
Perk
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Rental Car · No listed cash value
Coverage for eligible rental car damage or theft when the rental is reserved and paid for with the card.
Verdict
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express wins year 1 and long term.
Winner after year 1
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$278 ongoing edge
$570 vs $292
Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $0 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and benefit gap.
Citi
Citi Custom Cash Card
Year One
$492
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$292
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$292
1.00% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$1,500
6 mo window · $250/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
American Express
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Year One
$770
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$570
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$486
1.67% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
$84
$84 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$2,000
6 mo window · $333/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Spend Mix Math
Where the value actually comes from
Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and the benefits you chose to count.
Dining
1%
$5,400
Citi Custom Cash
$54
1.00%
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$54
1.00%
Groceries
1%
$7,800
Citi Custom Cash
$78
1.00%
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$234
3.00%
Travel
1%
$3,000
Citi Custom Cash
$30
1.00%
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$30
1.00%
Gas
1%
$1,920
Citi Custom Cash
$19
1.00%
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$58
3.00%
General
1%
$11,040
Citi Custom Cash
$110
1.00%
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$110
1.00%
Total annual spend
$29,160 across this mix
Citi Custom Cash$292
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$486
Raw Breakdown
Full side-by-side details
Use the spec table below when you want the literal field-by-field differences in rewards, benefits, transfer partners, fees, and approval profile.
| Metric | Citi Custom Cash Card | Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Annual fee | Free | Free |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 2.7% |
| Rewards | ||
| Gas rewards | — | 3% U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. |
| Groceries rewards | — | 3% U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. |
| Online Shopping rewards | — | 3% U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. |
| Other rewards | 5% Top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500. | — |
| All rewards | 1% | 1% |
| Offer | ||
| Welcome offer | $200 credit Spend $1,500 in 6 mo | $200 back Earn $200 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. You will receive the $200 back in the form of a statement credit. |
| Benefits | ||
| Estimated benefits | 3 listed | ~$84/yr |
| Benefit highlights | Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity | $84 Disney Bundle Credit · Purchase Protection · Extended Warranty · +2 more |
| Profile | ||
| Credit needed | Good | Good |
| Network | mastercard | amex |
| Reward type | Cashback | Cashback |
Costs
Annual fee
Citi Custom Cash Card
Free
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Free
Foreign transaction fee
Citi Custom Cash Card
3%
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
2.7%
Rewards
Gas rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
—
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
3%
U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
Groceries rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
—
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
3%
U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
Online Shopping rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
—
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
3%
U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
Other rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
5%
Top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
—
All rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
1%
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
1%
Offer
Welcome offer
Citi Custom Cash Card
$200 credit
Spend $1,500 in 6 mo
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$200 back
Earn $200 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. You will receive the $200 back in the form of a statement credit.
Benefits
Estimated benefits
Citi Custom Cash Card
3 listed
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
~$84/yr
Benefit highlights
Citi Custom Cash Card
Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
$84 Disney Bundle Credit · Purchase Protection · Extended Warranty · +2 more
Profile
Credit needed
Citi Custom Cash Card
Good
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Good
Network
Citi Custom Cash Card
mastercard
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
amex
Reward type
Citi Custom Cash Card
Cashback
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Cashback